Eagles' offensive line needs are few in upcoming draft

Editor's note: This is the first in an eight-day series examining the Eagles at each position and their potential needs in the NFL Draft this month.

If the Eagles have been consistent with anything under longtime coach Andy Reid, it's been their philosophy to build their team from the inside out. This shows up both in the way they draft and how they construct their 53-man roster.

Besides quarterback, linemen on both sides are valued by this team more than any other position, which has been reflected in first-round picks Danny Watkins, Brandon Graham, Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Shawn Andrews and Jerome McDougle.

In fact, since 2003, in the years when they didn't trade out of the first round, the Eagles have drafted a lineman every year but one.

That said, it is highly unlikely they will expend any of their top picks in this year's NFL Draft on offensive linemen, the starting point in our series of stories examining the Eagles' position group strengths and weaknesses leading up to next week's draft.

Had the Eagles not been able to sign free-agent Demetress Bell to step in at left tackle for the injured Jason Peters, their plans almost certainly would be different. But Bell, Peters and each of the other starters — all considered by sources inside and out to be solid-to-excellent players — are signed at least through 2015.

After a bit of a rebuilding phase, offensive line once again is perhaps the strongest position group on this team.

However, it doesn't mean the Eagles won't pull the trigger on at least one project they believe will help them down the road. Actually, it would be surprising if they didn't.

For example, as good as the Eagles feel about second-year center Jason Kelce, they're not sure what they have there beyond him because veteran and former longtime starter Jamaal Jackson was quietly let go in the offseason.

Kelce was drafted in the sixth round, and Jackson was an undrafted free agent, offering the best proof that the Eagles won't be taking any of the higher-end centers next week, but that they can and likely will be active on the last day for someone they can develop.

Michigan's David Molk, Baylor's Philip Blake and Arizona State's Garth Gerhart are strong possibilities. All are projected by most draft experts to go no earlier than the fifth round.

Blake, of course, was a college teammate of starting right guard Watkins, the Eagles' first-round pick a year ago. And like Watkins, Blake is a Canadian with experience at tackle (before being shifted to center). An analysis by CBSsports.com describes Blake as flashing "quickness and agility to pull from either the center or guard spots, but seems best staying inside due to lack of height and inconsistency hitting target."

Eagles offensive line coach Howard Mudd may be just what Blake needs to start hitting those targets, as the remarkably agile Kelce so often does.

Kelce, the Eagles have pointed recently, was the only NFL player drafted in the final two rounds last year to start all 16 games.

So the team has to be confident it can find another late-round gem who can be groomed to take over for Kelce (or anyone else) in an emergency.

Guard possibilities for the Eagles include Jaymes Brooks of Virginia Tech, Joe Looney of Wake Forest and Adam Gettis of Iowa. Gettis was a college teammate of Eagles reserve guard Julian Vandervelde.

Brooks may have added value because of his ability to play center, which he showed at the Players All-Star Classic in February. At 6-2, 310 pounds, he might be considered an undersized guard for most NFL teams, but not for the new-look Eagles.

At tackle, don't be surprised if the Eagles take a flyer on Matt Reynolds of Brigham Young because, well, they just love those Brigham Young guys, especially the fully mature ones who've been on missions before rejoining the sports world.

Brigham Young is Reid's alma mater.

Another possibility is Portland State's Dustin Waldron.

But again, the Eagles are presumed solid across the board with starters Kelce, Watkins, Bell, left guard Evan Mathis and right tackle Todd Herremans. Nobody they will pluck from this draft will mount a serious challenge to start anytime soon.